Exercise device comprising portable handles



Dec. 24, 1963 K. Acs ETAL v EXERCISE DEVICE COMPRISING PORTABLE HANDLESFiled NOV- 23, 1960 JNVBNTDRS kA THER/NE Ac's PE TE}? AC5 United StatesPatent 3,115,338 EXERCISE DEVICE CQMPRISING PORTABLE HANDLES KatherineAcs and Peter Acs, both of 12 Clinton St., South River, NJ. Filed Nov.23, 1960, Ser. No. 71,234 3 Claims. (Cl. 272-57) This invention relatesto an exercising device and more particularly to a pair of handles thatare rigidly supported on a base to assist a person in various exercisesby providing a more adaptable hand gripping position.

The prior art illustrates many forms of exercising devices such asPatent 2,939,704 illustrating an athletic training accessory. Thispatent is primarily concerned with a forearm support to assist theperson in performing a hand stand. Also Patent 2,919,918 which isprimarily designed to assist a person in performing a head stand. PatentNo. 1,660,130 is a gymnastic appliance which is provided to replace wallbars, a bench, table or horizontal bar and permit the person to performthe various gymnastic exercises provided by these bars. Also Patent2,914,326 which is an exercise device for infants which is designed topermit the muscular development of an infant by crawling and climbingwith the device. There are also a number of patents showing weightlifting devices and spring tensioned devices for muscular development.

It is an object of this invention to provide an exercising device in theform of a pair of portable handles which may be utilized in variousexercises to provide a more adaptable grip for the individual performingthe exercise.

A further object of this invention is to provide an exercising device inthe form of a pair of portable handles that may be used in any adjustedhorizontal position for push-up exercises.

A still further object of this invention is to provide an exercisingdevice in the form of a pair of portable handles that may be used in anadjusted vertical position as against or adhering to a wall for reducingexercises.

A further object of this invention is to provide an exercising device inthe form of a pair of portable handles that may be used in a desiredpredetermined overhead position for pull-up exercises.

A still further object of this invention is to provide an exercisingdevice in the form of a pair of portable handles that may be easilyattached to various weighted objects to provide a weight liftingexercising device.

A still further object of this invention is to provide an exercisingdevice in the form of portable handles that may be attached to the endof a resilient object such as a spring to permit the type of exercise inwhich the springs are pulled.

Other objects of this invention may be apparent by reference to theaccompanying detailed description and the drawings in which FIG. 1 is aschematic illustration of the device as used in push-up exercises,

FIG. 2 is a plan view of one of the elements,

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 2,

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view showing a further embodiment of thisinvention,

FIG. 5 is a plan view taken on line 55 of FIG. 4,

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view showing a further embodiment of thisinvention, and

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of a still further embodiment of thisinvention.

Referring to the drawings and particularly FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 there isillustrated an exercising device 10 which in use is used in pairs asshown in FIG. 1. The device Patented Dec. 24, 1963 is comprised of abase 11 and a handle 12. The base for convenience is shown as a circularelement with the handle 12 mounted on one face of the base. The handle12 may take a half round configuration as probably the most adaptableform. The device as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 may be formed of anyrigid material such as wood, metal, plastic, etc. The device may be madeas two separate elements 11 and 12 or the device may be cast or moldedas a single element. Referring to FIG. 1 there is illustrated aschematic of a person 14 utilizing a pair of the devices 10 one grippedin each hand for the so-called push-up exercise which has become one ofthe most used exercises for the individual. In this exercise a personsimply grasps the two elements 10 and places them at any desiredposition according to the size of the person and thus accommodates thedevice to his or her proportions and with the hand gripping handle 12there is a feeling of better balance during the exercise.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5 there is illustrated a further embodiment ofthis invention in which there are similarly provided a pair ofexercising devices 10A. In this embodiment the handle 12 is the same andthe base 11 is the same. However to provide a greater variety ofexercises, the base 11 on its underside is provided with a rubbersuction cup 15 which may be securely aflixed to the base 11. Thus in usedevice 10A may be used as described in FIG. 1 but it may also be used toadhere to a vertical wall and permit the individual to perform variousreducing exercises while maintaining a perfect balance by means of thedevice 10A. In this instance a single handle 12 may be used or a pair asin the former embodiment.

A still further embodiment of this invention is illustrated in FIG. 6 inwhich the device 10B is similar to the device 10 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3having a handle 12 and a base 11. In this embodiment the base 11 isprovided with a center bolt 17 so that the device may be afiixed to awall or to a ceiling or overhead support to enlarge the variousexercises that may be performed with this device. It is apparent thatthe device may be used without bolt 17 as described in FIG. 1 and may beused with bolt 17 as described in FIGS. 4 and 5 and in addition may beaffixed to an overhead support to permit the exerciser to performpull-up or gymnastic exercises as the case may be. In this embodimentespecially when the device is to be supported overhead, the handle 12must be of greater strength to insure complete support and the handle 12may be mounted as shown in FIG. 6 by extending the ends of handle 12through the base 11 and threadably securing nuts on the ends of thehandle 12. Or as in the previous embodiment, the device may be cast as asingle element of a material to provide the desired strength.

The embodiment illustrated in FIG. 6 lends itself to various otherexercising devices, for example, the base 11 by means of the bolt 17 maybe attached to one or a plurality of weights for a weight liftingexercise. And in another variation of muscle developing exercise, thebolt 17 may be attached to the end of a resilient element such as aspring where the resilient element is attached at its opposite end to afixed structure. This permits the individual to perform the variousexercises prescribed for this type of device. In this form of device thebolt 17 may also be formed with a hook at one end to permit the deviceto be easily attached to a spring and removed as desired.

Referring to FIG. 7 there is illustrated a still further embodiment ofthis invention in which the device 10C is similar to the otherembodiments comprised of a handle 12 and a base 11. However in thisembodiment, the base 11 on its underside is provided with a plurality ofhobnails or spikes 18. With this type of gripping element, theexercising device 10C provides a better gripping base where the deviceis used outside such as in a lawn or on rough terrain.

Although the device has been shown with a circular base 111 it is to beunderstood that the base 11 may be of any desired configuration as lonas it provides the desired support in a single plane in all directions.It is also to be understood that handle 12 may be smaller or larger incross section to provide a proper gripping surface for a child or agrown-up according to the hand using same. Although the handle 12 hasbeen shown as a smooth surface handle, the inner surface of the halfcircular formed handle may be provided with a plurality of fingergripping grooves to improve the grip and prevent the hand from slipping.Or the handle 12 may be provided with a rubber sleeve fitted snuglyabout handle 12 and slideably cornpressable to the grip of the hand toimprve the feel of the grip during exercises. It is also to beunderstood that the device, although primarily designed for a pluralityof exercises, may be temporarily attached or mounted to any other deviceto increase the utility of the device to which it is attached such asplayground equipment provided for the youngster in which additionalexercises are desired. Various other changes may be made in thematerial, its configuration, its weight or with a slight degree offlexibility without departing from the spirit of this invention and thisinvention shall be limited only by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An exercising device which includes two hand rigidly supportedupright half-round shaped gripping handles each device comprised of asolid fiat base with each handle protruding at right angles from itsbase and afiixed to its base, said base being round in configuration tospread the weight equally in use.

2. In a device according to claim 1 in which the handle and base areformed as an integral unit.

3. In a device according to claim 1 in which the handle is formed to fitthe configuration of the fingers and is secured to the solid base as aseparate element.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS138,862 Corbin May 13, 1873 431,421 Truman July 1, 1890 695,903 BraatzMar. 25, 1902 792,481 VVaid June 13, 1905 867,886 Kriner Oct. 8, 19071,040,303 Frakes Oct. 8, 1912 1,573,362 Stovall Feb. 16, 1926 1,577,077Ray Mar. 16, 1926 1,581,235 Sorel Apr. 20, 1926 2,807,827 Brooks Oct. 1,1957 3,010,500 Jordan Nov. 28, 1961 FOREIGN PATENTS 377,088 Italy Dec.9, 1939

1. AN EXERCISING DEVICE WHICH INCLUDES TWO HAND RIGIDLY SUPPORTEDUPRIGHT HALF-ROUND SHAPED GRIPPING HANDLES EACH DEVICE COMPRISED OF ASOLID FLAT BASE WITH EACH HANDLE PROTRUDING AT RIGHT ANGLES FROM ITSBASE AND AFFIXED TO ITS BASE, SAID BASE BEING ROUND IN CONFIGURATION TOSPREAD THE WEIGHT EQUALLY IN USE.